Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center Plan

by

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center, designed by Weiss/Manfredi, is a 20,000-square-foot building that seamlessly integrates with the surrounding landscape. The primary purpose of the Visitor Center is to serve as a threshold between the city and the garden, providing a legible point of arrival and orientation for visitors. It aims to create an interface between culture and cultivation, showcasing the garden’s world-class collection and promoting environmental stewardship and conservation.

Embedding the Visitor Center into the Landscape

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center Plan
Image Credit: Wikimedia

The Visitor Center is embedded into an existing hillside at the garden’s northeast corner, appearing as a natural extension of the topography. The curved glass building leads visitors from Washington Avenue into the garden, framing views of the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and Cherry Esplanade. The design incorporates numerous sustainable features, including a 10,000-square-foot living roof, rain gardens, and a geoexchange system, all aimed at earning LEED Gold certification.

Sustainable Features of the Visitor Center

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center Plan

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center incorporates several sustainable measures to minimize its environmental impact and promote eco-friendly practices:

  1. Living Roof: A 10,000-square-foot green roof hosting over 40,000 plants, which changes throughout the year, adding a new experimental landscape to the garden’s collection.
  2. Rain Gardens: A series of rain gardens that collect and filter runoff, improving stormwater management.
  3. Geoexchange System: A system that heats and cools the interior spaces, reducing energy consumption.
  4. Earth Mass: The building is built into a preexisting berm, increasing thermal efficiency.
  5. Fritted Glass: The curved glass walls filter light and deter bird strikes, minimizing heat gain and maximizing natural illumination.

Cost and Awards

  • Cost: The Visitor Center cost $28 million to build.
  • Area: The building covers an area of 20,000 square feet.
  • Awards: The project was honored by the New York City Public Design Commission with an Award for Excellence in Design.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center is a remarkable example of sustainable architecture that seamlessly integrates with the surrounding landscape. Its innovative design features and commitment to environmental stewardship make it a must-visit destination for botanical garden enthusiasts and architecture lovers alike.

References:

  1. ArchDaily. (2012). Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center / Weiss/Manfredi. Retrieved from https://www.archdaily.com/235079/brooklyn-botanic-garden-visitor-center-opens-to-the-public
  2. Archello. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center | HMWhite. Retrieved from https://archello.com/project/brooklyn-botanic-garden-visitor-center
  3. ArchDaily. (2013). Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center / Weiss/Manfredi. Retrieved from https://www.archdaily.com/445453/brooklyn-botanic-garden-visitor-center-weiss-manfredi
  4. Weiss/Manfredi. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center. Retrieved from https://www.weissmanfredi.com/projects/371-brooklyn-botanic-garden-visitor-center
  5. World-Architects. (2012). Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center. Retrieved from https://www.world-architects.com/en/architecture-news/reviews/brooklyn-botanic-garden-visitor-center

Leave a Comment